Heat-dissipating means for electrodes



July 9, 1929. s. MOONEYHAN 1.720.186

HEAT DISSIPATING MEANS FOR ELECTRODES Filed April 1928 Inventor 2214 Mam h? Attorn qy Patented July 9, 1929.

v UNITED STATES v 1,720,186 PATENT OFFICE.

8AM IOONEYHAN, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ASSIGNOB OI SIXTY PEE CENT TO ARTHUR L. BURGE, 01 PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

Application filed April 24, 1928. Serial No. 272,477.

The present invention pertains to improvements in means for dissipating the heat developed in electrodes and is especially adapted for use in conjunction with electrodes em- 6 ployed in electrical display devices, and the like, wherein neon or other electric current illuminable gas is employed for illuminating purposes.

The present types of electrodes used in 10 these gaseous illuminating devices are sub- 'ect to quick destruction due to the unusual lieat they must withstand and furthermore, when these electrodes-become useless they are verydifiicult to replace, due to the particular manner by which they are secured within the aseous container.

T e prime object of this invention is to provide a heat dissipating means for electrodes employed in the above capacity includ- 2 0 ing structure for conducting the heat away from the electrode and discharging the same into space.

Another object resides in the provision of means whereby the current discharging end of the electrode will be protected against the usual disintegration, and further, to protect the surrounding aseous container against the terrific heat expe led by the electrode.

Other objects and advantages of this in- 3 vention will become apparent as the invention is better understood from the following specification and claims. g In the drawing: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the electrodes equipped with the improved means for dissipating heat, and I Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the gaseous container and the present improved device, as disclosed in Figure 1.-

' Now for a more detailed description of'this invention, reference is" made to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts. In the adaptation of this device in use, the

4 usual gaseous container A is provided, the

same being enlarged at B in the usual manner and at the point at which the electrode terminates therein, to somewhat resist the heat ex lled thereby. Asubstantially elongated g ass rod 1 has fused therein the usual electrode 2, projecting beyond each end thereof. The container A is contracted and fused to the outer end portion of the lass rod 1, in the manner designated at C. e discharging end of the electrode is designated at 3, and

'tion desired.

projects a substantial distance beyond the inner end of the glass rod 1. As before stated, this discharge end of the electrode terminates within the enlarged space B of the container,

for allowing the displacement of heat without directly affecting the wall of the 0on tainer, besides allowing the proper phenomena between the current and the gaseous content of the container, to produce the illumina- The inner end of the electrode is embedded within the solid glass cap 4, which is substantially flat at its inner side and substantially of semi-spherical shape at its outer side. In this manner, the current discharging portion of the electrode is between the inner extremity of the rod 1 and the flat face of the cap 4.

A pair of tubes 5 and 6 respectively are constructed of dissimilar material and are contracted at their inner portions 7 for snug engagement around the glass rod 1. The outer end portion of each tube isserrated to provide pointed projections 8. The portions of the tubes in spaced relation to the glass rod 1 are also in slight spaced relation to each 30 other, as is clearly disclosed in Figure 20f the. drawings. The plain ends of the tubes terminate at a point inwardly from the inner end of the glass rod 1, while the opposite ser rated end portions of the tubes terminate at a point slightly inwardly from the end of the container A. p

In the operation of this device, the current flows through the electrode 2 and discharges from the portion 3 thereof between the inner end of the glass tube 1 and the glass cap 4.

Obviously, this portion of the electrode becomes highly heated and oftentimes affects the container A, resulting in the distortion or warping thereof. The present invention provides means for controlling this heat'and dissipating the same. In this, the heat will be deflected by the fiat side of the glass ca 4 and will travel outwardly on the glass 1'0 1. As the heat reaches the reduced portion of 9 the metal tubes 5 and 6 respectively, these tubes being constructed of high heat conductive metal will cause the heat to be attracted from, the glass tube and passed toward the serrated edges thereof.

While the heat is passing from the inner end of the glass rod 1, some of the heat radiating from the rod 1 will be conducted by -the inner portion of the tube in spaced relation to the inner end portion ofthe red. It

is preferably that the inner tube be of copper metal, while the outside tube is preferably of aluminum. The heat will be quickly conducted by the copper tube to the serrated end thereof, while the aluminum tube will act as a shield, being of less heat conductive quality than the copper tube and will absorb whatever heat is not completely conducted by the copper tube.

As the heat passes to the pointed projections 8, the same will gradually dissipate by expulsion into the space within the container.

In this manner, the electrode heat is conveyed to a point within the container of normal low temperature and there discharged. In this manner, the heat will be distributed throughout the portion of the tube, not directly heated by the electrode, whereby the portlon' of the tube adjacent tothe electrode will be protected from excessiveheat andthe consequences caused .thereby.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A di'schar e tube comprising an electrode, and a tu of high-heat conductivity arranged around said electrode and in spaced relation therewith, and means at the hot end of the electrode for deflecting the heat toward said tube.

2. A discharge tube comprising a container, a member of current insulating quality adapted to have one end portion thereof projecting withinthe container, an electrode extending through said member and projecting beyond the inner end thereof, an enlarged member on the inner end of said electrode provided with a flat surface opposed to the inner end of said insulating member, and means on said insulating member for conducting heat deflected by said flat surface to a normally low temperatured portion of the container.

3. A discharge tube comprising a container, a member of current insulating quality adapted to have one end portion thereof projecting I within the container, an electrode extending through said member and projecting beyond the inner end thereof, an enlarged member on the inner end of. said electrode provided with a flat surface opposed to the inner end of said insulatin member, means on said insulating member f br conducting heat deflected by said flat surface to a normally low temperatured portion of the container, and means for discharging the heat accumulated by said heat conducting means.

. 4. A discharge tube comprising a container, an insulating element projecting into the container, an electrode extending through said element and projecting beyond the inner end thereof, heat deflecting means on the inner end of said electrode, a pair of spaced metallic tubes on said insulating element, one tube being of smaller diameter than the other, and arranged within the said other tube, said inner tube being of high heat conductivity, while the other tube is of substantially low heat conductivity, and means for discharging the heat accumulated by said tubes.

5. A discharge tube comprising a container, an insulating element projecting into the container, an electrode extending through said element and projecting beyond the inner end thereof, heat deflecting means on the inner end of said electrode, a pair of spaced metallic tubes on said insulating element, one tube being of smaller diameter than the other, and arranged within the said other tube, said inner tube being of high heat conductivity, while the other tube is of substantially low heat conductivity, and means for discharging the heat accumulated by said tubes, said means consisting of pointed projections on one end of the tube.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

. SAM MOONEYHAN. 

